A week ago, Cuomo promised the liberal Working Families Party that he would reunite Democrats in the Senate to end majority control held by Republicans. The Republican conference is headed by co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who shares control with the five-member Independent Democratic Conference.

"That is a fight that we must wage," Como said in a video to the Working Families Party on May 31. "If we are unified . . . we can take control of our government."

Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers), who leads the larger Democratic minority conference, said Monday that "we have always made it clear that we want Democrats to be united and the sooner we can do that the better."

She noted the coalition between Republicans and the IDC continues through this year so the governor was speaking "pragmatically," adding, "I agree whatever happens would have to happen next year."